Oil can display rack and cabinet



Oct. 6, 1953 w 2,654,508

OIL CAN DISPLAY RACK AND CABINET Filed April 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1953 F. D. WRIGHT OIL CAN DISPLAY RACKAND CABINET Filed April 16. 1949 ATTORNEY INVENTOR.

F. o. WRIGHT FIG. 9

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL CAN DISPLAY RACKAND CABINET Fred D. Wright, Nash Fred D. Wright 00.,

This invention relates to merchandise and more particularly to a displaycabinet for holding and displaying cans of lubricating oil and the likeand in which means is provided for disposing of the empty cans andsalvaging any oil which may remain therein.

Numerous devices of this nature have been heretofore developed andpatented but many of these for various reasons were unsatisfactory,particularly as respects convenience of use, sturdiness, appearance,insecure locking mechanisms which rendered the devices subject to theft,as well as relatively expensive construction which rendered the priorart devices somewhat impractical.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a sirigleunitary structure a display cabinet having means for holding anddisplaying a plurality of containers, such as cans of lubricating oil,as well as means for disposal of empty cans which provides for drainingthe residual contents of these cans into a receptacle prior tocollecting of the empty cans within the interior of the cabinet in a binadjacent the bottom thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a display cabinet inwhich a sump is provided in the bottom thereof to collect any oil orother liquid which may drain from empty cans collected on a perforatedplatform within the base.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a display cabinet inwhich removable covers or doors are provided for the cabinet and inwhich doors permitting access to the empty can section and to the usedcan disposal device are hinged to the body of the cabinet, a singlelocking means being provided which effectively prevents unauthorizedaccess to any portion of the cabinet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cabinet whichpresents a pleasing appearance and on which means is provided forattractively displaying advertising matter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a display cabinethaving container disposal features in which means is provided forpreventing entry of rain into the interior of the cabinet and in whichmeans is further provided for permitting the cabinet to be securelyfastened to a masonry or other supporting structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the display cabinet of thisinvention with. the removable covers applied and locked in position;

Fig. 2, a perspective showing the display cabinet of this invention withthe covers removed;

Fig. 3, a sectional view taken on the line 3-4 ville, Tenm, assignor toInc., Nashville, Team, a corporation of Tennessee Application April 16,1949, Serial No. 87,989 5 Claims. (Cl. 222-412) 2 of Fig. 4 showing theinterior construction of the display cabinet particularly the candisposal means and the locking mechanism;

Fig. 4, a sectional view taken on the line l.| of Fig. 3 and showing theinterior structure of the device as well as the operation of theremovable covers;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary plan view showing the locking mechanism for theremovable covers;

Fig. 6,'a fragmentary elevational view showing in full lines the lockingmechanism of Fig. 5 in unlocked position and in phantom in lockedposition;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary sectional view on the line 7-! of Fig. 6 showingthe details of the locking mechanism in unlocked position;

Fig. 8, a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the locking mechanism in'lockedposition; .and,

Fig- 9, a fragmentary sectional view showing the latching means for theaccess doors to the candisposal means and empty can bin.

With continued reference to the drawing, the display rack or cabinet andcan disposal means of this invention is constructed largely of sheetmetal stampings and comprises a generally rectangular base It ofappreciable height providing a chamber interiorly thereof, the purposeof which will be presently described. For convenience in securing thebase to a masonry support or the like inwardly projecting flanges vllare provided and suitable apertures I! extend through the flanges H forreception of fastening bolts or other suitable securing means.

To the upper surface of base N) there is secured sheet metal end members13 and M of generally triangular configuration and between these endmembers on each side of the rack there is provided a plurality ofchannels [5 formed by U- shaped sheet metal members I6 for the receptionof a plurality of containers arranged in vertical stacked relation. Thevarious sheet metal parts may be secured together by rivets, spotwelding, beading, or other securing means well known to the sheet metalart. Also adjacent the top of the device there may be provided moldingsl? and I8 surrounding panels IS on each side of the rack which panelsare adapted to receive and attractively display advertising matter.

Within the cabinet is provided means for receiving empty cans orcontainers in such a positionas to permit drainage of any of thecontents of the containers which may remain therein. This isparticularly advantageous in the case of lubricating oil since a certainamount of the oil will remain in the container after use and salvage ofthis oil presents a very real savings to filling station operators orothers who have occasion to use a large number of containers of suchmaterial. A track or guide way for receivfrom through the space betweenthe inner edges 4 of the flanges 21 and be directed by inclined troughs23 into a removable drawer-like receptacle 24. The container receivingtrack 26 is dimensioned to receive a plurality of containers, three ofwhich are shown in position in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and. thus thesecontainers remain on the track way in an inverted upright position foran appreciable periodof time permitting substantially complete drainageof the contents thereof. As each new container is introduced onto thetrack way the last container 22 moves from the end thereof and as shownin dotted lines and by the arrow in Fig. 3, drops to the bottom of thecabinet where, if desired, a suitable container or bin (not shown) maybe provided for the reception thereof. Preferably, the cans come to restupon a perforated plate .33 for a purpose to be described more fullyhereinafter. Access to the track way 23 is provided by a door 25hingedly mounted on the end member 14, there being provided a U-shapedchannel 21 to prevent entry of rain into the interior of the cabinet byreason of the rain running down the end member 14 and around the edgesof the door 26.

A second door 28 is hingedly connected to the end member l4 and providesaccess to the empty can bin 25 as well as to the drawer-like receptacle24 supported on a shelf 29 secured to the inner walls of the cabinet. 28permits removal of the receptacle 24 to empty the contents thereof andalso permits access to the bin 25 for removal of empty cans storedtherein. There is also provided a U-shaped channel 33 adjacent the edgesof the door 28 for preventing entry of rain in a manner similar to thatdescribed above in connection with channel Within the base in of thecabinet there is provided a sump 31 having an inclined bottom 32 andimmediately above this inclined bottom there is provided a perforatedtray 33 upon which empty cans are adapted to rest after ejection fromthe track, way 20. Perforated tray 33 permits any oilor other fluidwhich may drain from the cans to pass therethrough into the sump 3| andalong the inclined bottom 32 to the lowermost point thereof. Any oilcollected therein may be drained through a conduit 34 having a removablescrew threaded closure 35 on the outer end thereof.

It will be seen that by the above described structure there has beenprovided means whereby the major portion of any oil present in thecontainers will be drained therefrom during the time that the containersare disposed in inverted position on the track way 20 and any oil whichmay remain therein after ejection from the track Way will be drainedinto the sump 3| prior to removal of the empty cans from the bin 25.

Since it is intended that the cabinet of this invention be mounted andsecured in place in the open adjacent the drive ways and pumps of afilling station or the like, it is necessary to provide means forprotecting the contents thereof against unauthorized access and theft.For this purpose removable covers or doors 36 and 31 are provided forthe channels 15, these covers having downwardly extending projections 38adapted to engage in recesses in the base 10 of the cabinet, the coversbeing swingable to closed position as Opening. of the door 4 shown inFig. 1 and at the right in Fig. 4 and being completely removable fromthe rack by merely swinging the same outwardly and lifting projections38 from their associated recesses.

Covers 36 and 31 are provided with inwardly extending locking members 39and 40 respectively which cooperate with a locking mechanism disposedwithin the upper portion of the cabinet. This mechanism comprises alocking bar 4| pivotally secured at 42 to the cabinet structure, bar 4|being provided with outwardly extending projections 43 having downwardlyextending locking pins 44 adjacent the ends thereof. As shown in Figs.4, 6, 7 and 8, pins 44 are surrounded by compression springs 45 whichurge extensions 43 and bar 41 upwardly to unlock position, the pins 44when in locked position, as shown in phantom in Fig. 6 and in full linesin Fig. 8, extending through apertures 46 in the cabinet structure andthrough apertures 41 in the locking members 39 and 49 secured to thecovers 36 and 31 respectively;

In order to operate the locking bar 4| and lock ing pins 44 there isprovided in the end member l4 a key controlled locking handle 48 whichis provided on the inner end thereof with a cam 49 engaging a camfollower 50 on the end of the bar 4| remote from the pivotal connection42. As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 6, it is only necessaryto rotate the handle 48 in a clockwise direction to cause the cam 49 toengage the cam follower 50 and move the bar 41 downwardly which willresult in engagement of the locking pins 44 with the apertures 41 inlooking members 39. and 40. Movement of the handle 48 in the oppositedirection will permit retraction of the locking pins 44 under the actionof springs 45. This structure provides a simple and eificient lockingmeans for securely locking both covers 36 and 31 in closed position.

In order to prevent access to the interior of the cabinet, doors 25 and28 are locked in closed position by engagement of a pin 5| withapertures 52 in ears 53 projecting inwardly from doors 26 and 28. Whenin closed position ears 53 extend through apertures 54 in the end member14 and into the space provided by the front channels 15.

It is therefore only necessary for the operator to reach into thesechannels and engage pin 5| with the apertures 52 and then apply and lockthe covers 36 and 31 in position to effectively secure the cabinetagainst access to either the filled containers disposed in the channels15 or in the interior of the rack which contains the empty containers aswell as material drained therefrom.

For convenience in use there is also provided an auxiliary shelf 55disposed immediately above the track way 20 for reception of theconventional pouring spout or the like 55 which is normally used indispensing the contents of the containers in the cabinet, Also forconvenience in operation covers 36 and 31 are provided with manipulatinghandles 51 and doors 23 and 28 are pro- .vided with manipulating handles58.

By the above described invention there has been provided a relativelysimple yet highly efiicient display rack or cabinet and containerdisposal means incorporating provisions for salvaging residual contentsof the containers as well as providing a simple locking mechanism forsecuring the device against unauthorized access. It is also apparentthat the device may be very economically manufactured from stampedsheet. -metal parts which provides a sturdy structure presenting apleasing appearance which may conveniently harmonize with surroundingequipment.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and described in the specification but only asindicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an oil can display cabinet having a plurality of upwardlyextending channels for receiving and supporting cans of oil, means forsalvaging residual oil in empty cans and for storing said canscomprising a horizontal track Way disposed within said cabinet forreceiving and supporting said cans in inverted upright position, adrawer type receptacle disposed beneath said track way to receive oildripping from said cans, a pair of downwardly and inwardly inclinedtroughs beneath said track way for directing the oil into saidreceptacle, a perforated tray in said bin adapted to receive cans fromsaid track way, a sump beneath said tray having an inclined bottom forreceiving oil dripping from said cans, a drain for said sump, doorspivotally mounted on said cabinet for preventing access to said trackway and said bin, channels cooperating with said doors to prevent entryof rain to the interior of said cabinet, latch means for said doorsdisposed in said upwardly extending channels on each side of saidcabinet, removable covers for said upwardly extending channels and keycontrolled locking means operated by a single handle for locking saidcovers in closed position thereby preventing removal of said covers oropening of said doors.

2. In an oil can display cabinet having a plurality of upwardlyextending channels for receiving and supporting cans of oil, means forsalvaging residual oil in empty cans and for storing said canscomprising a track way disposed within said cabinet for receiving andsupporting said cans in inverted position, a receptacle disposed beneathsaid track way to receive oil dripping from said cans, a pair of troughsbeneath said track way for directing the oil into said receptacle, aperforated tray in said bin adapted to receive cans from said track way,a sump beneath said'tray having an inclined bottom for receiving oildripping from said cans, a drain for said sump, doors pivotally mountedon said cabinet for preventing access to said track way and said bin,channels cooperating with said doors to prevent entry of rain to theinterior of said cabinet, latch means ior said doors disposed in saidupwardly extending channels on each side of said cabinet, removablecovers for said upwardly extending channels and key controlled lockmeans operated by a single handle for locking said covers in closedposition thereby preventing removal of said covers or opening of saiddoors.

3. In an oil can display cabinet having a plurality of upwardlyextending channels for receiving and supporting cans of oil, means forsalvaging residual oil in empty cans and for storing said canscomprising a track way disposed within said cabinet for receiving andsupporting said cans in inverted position, a receptacle disposed beneathsaid track way to receive oil dripping from said cans, a perforated trayin said bin adapted to receive cans from said track way, a sump beneathsaid tray for receiving oil dripping from said cans, a drain for saidsump, doors pivotally mounted on said cabinet for preventing access tosaid track way and said bin, channels cooperating with said doors toprevent entry of rain to the interior of said cabinet, latch means forsaid doors disposed in said upwardly extending channels on each side ofsaid cabinet, removable covers for said upwardly extending channels andkey controlled lock means for locking said covers in closed positionthereby preventing removal of said covers or opening or" said doors.

4. In an oil can cabinet for salvaging residual oil from substantiallyemptied cans, a substantially horizontally disposed trackway includingtop and side wall structure and a bottom wall comprising opposed spacedflanges for supporting said substantially emptied cans in invertedposition, said cabinet having communication with the exteriorimmediately adjacent one extremity of said trackway for the insertion ofinverted substantially emptied cans on said trackway and the progressivemovement of cans therealong, the opposite extremity of said trackwaycommunicating with the interior of said cabinet and being spaced from aninner wall thereof to permit inverted cans to drop from the end thereof,a primary oil recovery receptacle removably mounted within said cabinetbeneath said trackway, complementarily inclined opposed troughs disposedabove said receptacle transversely of said flanges and beneath saidtrackway for directing oil draining from the inverted cans into saidreceptacle, a perforated tray in said cabinet located adjacent thebottom thereof for receiving cans dropping from the end of saidtrackway, and a secondary oil recovery receptacle within said cabinetlocated beneath said perforated tray.

5. In an oil can cabinet for salvaging residual oil from substantiallyemptied cans, a substantially horizontally disposed trackway includingtop and side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom Wall comprisingopposed spaced flanges in substantially the same plane extendinginwardly from the side wall structure sufficiently far to prevent an endof the can from being unsupported on both flanges at the same timewhereby the cans may be maintained in a substantially vertical positionwith the openings therein being at all times substantially the lowestpoint of the chamber in each can whereby the maximum amount of oil willbe removed from the inverted cans, said side walls being spaced apart asuificient distance to receive the upright cans and each side Wall beingspaced from the free edge of the opposite flange a distance no greaterthan the diameter of the cans, inclined troughs extending from the rearof the trackway forwardly and an inclined trough extending from theforward end of the trackway rearwardly so that the drained oil will bedirected in a relatively limited area, and means whereby a receptaclemay be supported beneath said limited area whereby substantially all ofthe oil drained while the cans are on the trackway is collected in saidreceptacle.

FRED D. WRIGHT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,998,263 Townsend Apr. 16, 1935 2,199,970 Mitchell May 7,1940 2,320,159 Smith May 25, 1943 2,443,837 Smith June 22, 1948

